For generations, over one hundred plus years, our family has had several traditions. I know we focus mostly on the farming and such in my Papaw Everette's life, but he was something else, too. And so was his daddy, Charlie. And so was MY daddy. Sadly, since my paternal grandpa Benny died at age 66 when my dad was 5, my dad isn't sure if his dad was one or not, and I am not calling his 85 year old first cousin just to find that particular piece of information out right now. Uncle Troy was one. Dylan's grandpa Larry was one. Dylan's dad was one, briefly. And as proud of this heritage as we are, hopefully Dylan will never have to be one. What is this horrific/wondrous thing we are talking about?
A coal miner.
With the recent deaths of the 29 miners at Upper Branch Mine near Whitesville, WV, I have struggled with forming this post. I have wanted to do a post on this before, but just hadn't got it together. But I still feel that it is important.
This is not a "political" post or whatever, really, I just want to enlighten the rest of the world a little about coal mining and all this "clean coal" garbage the government is preaching right now. Trust me, the government has severe ulterior (aka MONEY) motives for all this "Going Green" stuff. Don't get me wrong, YES coal mining could be safer. SHOULD be safer. There was no reason those gas levels should have gotten so high undetected. There is no excuse for some things. In an unreal reality, it has came a LONG way in 100 years. Other jobs should be safer. So should logging. So should oil rigging jobs. So should SIMPLY WALKING DOWN THE CITY STREETS, for crying out loud. EVERYTHING can be safer, better, etc. But don't let the politicians fool you. They are not purely concerned for the environment, or for the people and miners alone, either. "Cleaner Coal and Safer Coal" sounds nice, but what it means is NO coal, NO jobs, NO electricity,and total dependency on foreign countries for things, cause we all know we (Americans) aren't going to windmills and solar panels that cost an absolute fortune just to use MINIMAL appliances, let alone run all the gadgets we use to today. Don't be fooled into believing all this stuff can just magically happen. Like my good friend's shirt proudly states, "Sure you can trust the government. Just ask the Indians."
Like I said, and then I will get off my soap box and on to the pictures, I am NOT AGAINST SAFER MINING. Just the opposite. Just don't believe everything you hear on the news. It isn't the truth. They tell what they want too. I am not saying the "government is out to get us" or whatever. I am not even anti-government AT ALL. We have the potential to have a fabulous government. Have, I say. And YES, those deaths of those miners were tragic and could have been avoided. YES, the mines should be responsible. NO, coal mining shouldn't quit because of it. Disagree with me? That is okay. Are you prepared to quit driving 'just because' thousands of people die every year in car accidents? Are you willing to not fly because planes crash? Of course not. Just proves there is a right way and a wrong way to do everything, and everyone makes mistakes and could/should do things better. Okay, stepping off the box, and going back in time.
My Papaw Everette as a coal miner somewhere in the hills of wild, wonderful West Virginia.
His old mining light, which attached to his hat (not the light in the picture of him, though) that was fueled by carbide, hence the name Carbide Lamp.
The lamp with the hat after Poppy used it for a few years too, hence the "new" stickers.
Close up.
Side view.
Back of the hat, with a "new" Joy sticker.
Dad had to put HIS initials in it because the other men at the mines were always trying to take it or buy it from him cause it was such a great hat.
Dad's picture taken for a mining book. He was a little plumper then, lol, because he had been on a buggy for a few years and hadn't done severely hard labor. But he paid his dues. He has no hair on his knees from all the years crawling the floors of the earth. He has been thrown through the mines until he hit a wall (of coal and rock) when he picked up some live wires in a puddle of water, he can't hear very well. He may have black lung. By the grace of God he didn't lose his life in the many years he spent underground.
This is Dad's hat.
His light, which you filled the battery with water to keep it from burning up (don't ask me how it worked, it makes no sense to me! lol)
His little blue face mask that was meant to help keep coal dust out of his lungs.
Most of that is just dust from the garage, lol.
A picture of all our mining "memorabilia", including Dad's coffee thermos, but minus his bucket (which I couldn't find) that I used to go through every evening when he got home to get the left over goodies out of, in case he didn't finish all his cakes that day!
This used to be perhaps a life or death decision: Union YES or NO. (And don't let the size of the stickers fool you for which side dad was on! LOL) He would never officially tell me, because it went from life threatening to JOB threatening, but let's just say Unions were TOTALLY necessary at ONE POINT in coal mining history, but not anymore. Just saying!
Dad and some of the men he worked with last, getting ready to head up to the mines to go underground.
Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures on my computer of Uncle Troy in the mines, but he surely paid his dues too.
My life, our life, YOUR life, wouldn't have been the same with out men like these.
